The EV fact thread

[BTB 500]

Just watched a YouTube vid on the PetrolPed channel, about towing a caravan with an EV. Very interesting - aimed at real world rather than scientific. The battery usage rate turned out to be about the same as a diesel towcar, an approx doubling of the rate.

Depends what you are towing, what you're towing it with, and how fast. But half the mpg sounds excessive ... I like to make 'good progress' when towing a caravan (I once overtook a dawdling Porsche 911 on a single carriageway B road ) and have never got that low.

EV charging points are invariably closed end boxes, which means having to unhitch the trailer, especially with a charge socket at the back end of the car, and leave it elsewhere in the car park.

... which would mean either staying with it the whole time, or securing it with wheel clamps / hitch lock. We don't have a huge caravan (single axle) but it's still 7.4 metres long ... not easy to leave in a car park. Particularly if there's a height barrier

 

[BTB 500]

The only real issue is having to uncouple when charging.....but there are places where you can charge with the van still hooked up....and there will be more as EV HGVs take to the roads.

Will there?

EV HGVs (if they ever take off) will have gigantic battery packs that require prolonged charging times ... more likely they'll be depot charged at each end of fixed routes. Hydrogen is a more realistic solution for longer range road haulage.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I find the situation with Hammersmith Bridge mind boggling.
Considering it probably took less time to build in the first place with cast iron and wood, using hand tools and no modern tech.
Maybe they could make a charity song about a bridge in London falling down to raise funds for repair…
It’s all about the argument of who pays - TFL and the local council mainly AFAIK.

Friends who live in the area tell this story - can't say how true it is.

The local Liberal Democrats have claimed that the Bridge is their Number One Priority when elected.

"We'll get it fixed," they cry. When challenged as to how, their alleged answer is "We'll gather local residents and businesses and ask them what they want done, and consider the options, and get the best one done."

 

[ALFAitalia]

Will there?

EV HGVs (if they ever take off) will have gigantic battery packs that require prolonged charging times ... more likely they'll be depot charged at each end of fixed routes. Hydrogen is a more realistic solution for longer range road haulage.

But many will charge overnight at the service stations and overnight truck stops they spend the nights at now...so the caravanners will use them in the daytime. EV HGVs already exist and some are already available for sale.

 

[Dryce]

Will there?

EV HGVs (if they ever take off) will have gigantic battery packs that require prolonged charging times ... more likely they'll be depot charged at each end of fixed routes. Hydrogen is a more realistic solution for longer range road haulage.

I was of the opinion hydrogen would be better - but I can recall previous discussion. A proportion of HGVs remain reasonably close to depots and run regular routes. Drivers have to take mandatory breaks on runs. The drivers/vehicles are probably more easily regulated.

So it's likely that a % of HGVs can operate as EVs - as long as depot infrastructure and sufficient en-route infrastructure. Pragmatically long distance HGV EVs could operate as PHEV hybrids.

 

[PXW]

The only real issue is having to uncouple when charging.....but there are places where you can charge with the van still hooked up...

As with all these things, it will improve. This was at the relatively new Aire de Bourbonnais in France - specifically designed to cope with caravans and trailers

 

[ALFAitalia]

And as mentioned before hydrogen manufacture is really inefficient (both in the masses of electric it takes to make and efficiency no better that a petrol/derv car when its burnt...and the NOX produced) compared to running a vehicle directly on electricity).....unless we ever reach a point that we have more renewable electricity that we know what to do with it will never be viable on a big scale.

 

[baxlin]

I supplied that caravans!!

I supplied that caravans!!




Afraid not....already got quite a few that tow with EVs....caravans are a keen lot....it will take more than a change of fueling to stop them. Also lots tow with a 4x4 or heavier diesel car but only use that for towing and drive a smaller car, often an EV when not towing. So there will be nothing stopping them keeping their tow cars after 2035.

The only real issue is having to uncouple when charging.....but there are places where you can charge with the van still hooked up....and there will be more as EV HGVs take to the roads.
I have a customer who tows all over the place behind his Tesla Type X ...it has a 2.25 tonne towing capacity....so he can tow any van he wants with that. His range roughly halves when towing (not surprising given he's towing a near 2 tonne twin axle!)....but even at around 150 mile range that's a good three hours towing....probably rather more if not on motorways as we have a 50mph limit Then take a bow! Question: was the fridge being powered by the car, if not, would this be a further drain?

I supplied that caravans!!




Afraid not....already got quite a few that tow with EVs....caravans are a keen lot....it will take more than a change of fueling to stop them. Also lots tow with a 4x4 or heavier diesel car but only use that for towing and drive a smaller car, often an EV when not towing. So there will be nothing stopping them keeping their tow cars after 2035.

The only real issue is having to uncouple when charging.....but there are places where you can charge with the van still hooked up....and there will be more as EV HGVs take to the roads.
I have a customer who tows all over the place behind his Tesla Type X ...it has a 2.25 tonne towing capacity....so he can tow any van he wants with that. His range roughly halves when towing (not surprising given he's towing a near 2 tonne twin axle!)....but even at around 150 mile range that's a good three hours towing....probably rather more if not on motorways as we have a 50mph limit on normal roads when towing and most would or should want to stop for a break after towing that long...Towing requires rather more concentration than solo driving so is mentally more tiring.

I did have to upset a Jaguar I-Pace owner the other day though....his dealer told him it could tow 1500kg....which would give a pretty god choice of medium and small size vans....the truth was that it could only tow 750 kg....no vans we sell are that light. So its either got to go or it will be getting a cold damp trailer tent!! The dealer denies ever saying that of course....but I don't have a lot of sympathy for him....its up to him to check before paying the cash....took me about 10 seconds on Google to check!!!

Then take a bow!
Do you know if the fridge was being powered by the car? If not, could this be a further drain?

(Edit: sorry, I got in a bit of a mess in quoting!)

 

[clk320x]

I supplied that caravans!!




Afraid not....already got quite a few that tow with EVs....caravans are a keen lot....it will take more than a change of fueling to stop them. Also lots tow with a 4x4 or heavier diesel car but only use that for towing and drive a smaller car, often an EV when not towing. So there will be nothing stopping them keeping their tow cars after 2035.

The only real issue is having to uncouple when charging.....but there are places where you can charge with the van still hooked up....and there will be more as EV HGVs take to the roads.
I have a customer who tows all over the place behind his Tesla Type X ...it has a 2.25 tonne towing capacity....so he can tow any van he wants with that. His range roughly halves when towing (not surprising given he's towing a near 2 tonne twin axle!)....but even at around 150 mile range that's a good three hours towing....probably rather more if not on motorways as we have a 50mph limit on normal roads when towing and most would or should want to stop for a break after towing that long...Towing requires rather more concentration than solo driving so is mentally more tiring.

I did have to upset a Jaguar I-Pace owner the other day though....his dealer told him it could tow 1500kg....which would give a pretty god choice of medium and small size vans....the truth was that it could only tow 750 kg....no vans we sell are that light. So its either got to go or it will be getting a cold damp trailer tent!! The dealer denies ever saying that of course....but I don't have a lot of sympathy for him....its up to him to check before paying the cash....took me about 10 seconds on Google to check!!!

Yeah I know a few on the owners club towing with their X & Y.

 

[markjay]

Been up to Leeds and back in my EV today, no fires or issues to report.

How many days did it take? How many charging stops? And was it comfortable sleeping in the car?

 

[markjay]

Did a 160 mile drive over the weekend including a full circuit of the M25. Left with 99% battery, got home with 42% for comfortable real world range of 280 miles. All remarkably easy and normal!

Ahh but you've destroyed the battery charging it up to full, plus you were freezing in the car, and it must have taken you ages going around the M25 at 50mph....

 

[markjay]

Just watched a YouTube vid on the PetrolPed channel, about towing a caravan with an EV. Very interesting - aimed at real world rather than scientific. The battery usage rate turned out to be about the same as a diesel towcar, an approx doubling of the rate. So far so good.

The main problem appears inevitably to be charging. Unlike filling an ICE car, where the pumps are drive-through, EV charging points are invariably closed end boxes, which means having to unhitch the trailer, especially with a charge socket at the back end of the car, and leave it elsewhere in the car park.

Blinding flash of the bloomin’ obvious, but not anticipated by the planners it seems.

This is a fair point.

Luckily, with the slow AC chargers, the drivers supply their own charging cables, and EV drivers around here (myself included) use 7.5m or 10m charging cables, that allow us to park one or two bays away from the charger and still charge the car (in case the bay right next of the lamppost is taken by an ICE car, or by an EV that isn't using the charger). This solution will also work well for EVs towing caravans, however only when parked overnight due to the slow charging (~5kW).

I wonder if something similar can be arranged for DC fast charging - i.e. a specially-made extension cord for use by EVs towing caravans?

 

[clk320x]

How many days did it take? How many charging stops? And was it comfortable sleeping in the car?

I’m still recovering from the hypothermia.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Then take a bow!
Do you know if the fridge was being powered by the car? If not, could this be a further drain?

(Edit: sorry, I got in a bit of a mess in quoting!)

It can be....some customers do...some don't same as ICE cars. Tiny amount of power in the overall scheme though. AFAIK the tester did not have the fridge on but I don't know for sure.

 

[PXW]

Ahh but you've destroyed the battery charging it up to full, plus you were freezing in the car, and it must have taken you ages going around the M25 at 50mph....

Indeed…the boredom, the grandkids squabbling, though thankfully they couldn’t do serious harm to each other, all wrapped up in coats hats gloves and scarfs. And all those trucks on the inside lane with us - they just don’t understand how it’s a lifestyle choice to drive at 45mph…

 

[markjay]

Indeed…the boredom, the grandkids squabbling, though thankfully they couldn’t do serious harm to each other, all wrapped up in coats hats gloves and scarfs. And all those trucks on the inside lane with us - they just don’t understand how it’s a lifestyle choice to drive at 45mph…

I bet they thought that you were driving like a madman - one minute you were plodding along at an annoying 45mph, the other - for no obvious reason - you were sprinting like a bat out of hell when the computer took over the car and unintended acceptation kicked-in.....

 

[clk320x]

I bet they thought that you were driving like a madman - one minute you were plodding along at an annoying 45mph, the other - for no obvious reason - you were sprinting like a bat out of hell when the computer took over the car and unintended acceptation kicked-in.....

Good thing they couldn’t see him due to the misted up windows!

 

[BTB 500]

Here's an EV fact:

The calls come after the latest data from the Society of Motors and Manufacturers (SMMT) showed EV sales had dropped even further.

At the same time, a staggering 84.8 percent of new car sales in March were fitted with a petrol and diesel engine.

They claimed it was now clear that the public "do not want their choices taken away".

Experts demand 2035 petrol and diesel car ban is ‘permanently’ axed

Specialists have demanded the 2035 petrol and diesel car ban be scrapped while no more money should be sent to incentivise electric vehicle sales.

www.express.co.uk

 

[ChipChop]

Apple has ditched it's long term plans to develop a fully autonomous electric vehicle in favour of AI development because the market demand for EV is not there according to Silicon Valley sources.

Apple unplugs self-driving electric car project, reports say

 

[ALFAitalia]

Here's an EV fact:

Experts demand 2035 petrol and diesel car ban is ‘permanently’ axed

Specialists have demanded the 2035 petrol and diesel car ban be scrapped while no more money should be sent to incentivise electric vehicle sales.

www.express.co.uk

Cant see that ever happening....but we can hope!